Surgical instrument.



' W. E. MQMORDIB.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23, 1912.

Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOGIAPH CO-,WASHINC\TON. D. c.

mvrr a WILLIAM EMMETT MGMORDIE, OF HAMILTON, TEXAS.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed April 23,

To all whom it may concern:

1, WILLIAM E. MoMoR- em, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hamilton, in the county of Hamilton and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Surgical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to certain new an useful improvements in surgical instruments, and relates more particularly to instruments of this character used in the treatment of the uterine cavity.

The objects of the invention are to provide novel and improved means for expanding the dilating elements, and to generally simplify and increase the efiiciency of instruments of this especial type.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a device of this type which may be used as a medical tampon applicator and eX- tractor by persons unskilled in the practice of surgery or medicine.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view.

The irrigation tube 1, is formed with or has secured thereto at its inner end a conical nozzle 2. The inner end of thetube 1 is formed with a head 3 which is adapted to receive and engage the free end of a fountain syringe tube, not shown. At the base end of the head 3 a transverse bar t is secured and to the ends of the latter the dilating spring elements or prongs 5 are rigidly secured at 6. The free ends of the prongs 5 are curved inwardly at 7 so as to engage over the free or outer end of the nozzle 2 in spaced relation thereto. The extremities of the curved ends 7 of the prongs are provided with knobs or rounded heads 8. The prongs 5 are formed adjacent their inner ends with finger rings 9 which are located on the outer sides of the prongs, and which permit the operator to place two fingers in the same to move the prongs inwardly or outwardly with respect to the tube 1. Below the finger rings the outer sides of the prongs are formed with wedge-shaped faces 10 which incline downwardly and outwardly with relation to the sides of the prongs. A sleeve 11 is slidingly mounted on the tube 1 and is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

1912. Serial No. 692,685.

arms 12 each of which is longitudinally slotted to receive the prongs 5 and the wedge faces 10 thereof.

When the parts occupy the position depicted in Fig. 1, of the drawings the sleeve 11 and its arms 12 hold the prongs 5 in contacting relation to the nozzle 2. When the prongs are to be moved outwardly, or expanded relatively to one another, the sleeve 11 is moved to the dotted line position and the prongs, due to the spring nature thereof move outwardly. To restore the parts to the position shown in Fig. 1, it is merely necessary to slide the sleeve 11 along the tube 1, to the full line position illustrated in Fig. 1.

While I have shown and described a pair of prongs, it will nevertheless be understood that a greater number of same may be employed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a surgical instrument, an irrigation tube having a nozzle at one end and a syringe tube head at its opposite end, a trans verse bar secured to said irrigation tube at the base of the head thereof, a pair of spring prongs rigidly secured at one end to the ends of the bar and having their opposite ends curved inwardly toward each other and disposed to overlie the outer end of the nozzle in spaced relation thereto, finger rings on the prongs, a wedge-shaped face formed on the outer side face of each prong below the finger ring thereof, and a sleeve slidingly mounted on the irrigation tube and formed with a pair of diametrically opposed slotted arms which receive said prongs.

2. In a surgical instrument, an irrigation tube, a plurality of prongs located on opposite sides of the tube, stationary means secured to the tube and connected to the inner ends of prongs, finger engaging means on each prong arranged adjacent to said means, a wedge-shaped face on each prong adjacent to said finger engaging means, and a slidable element on the tube having elongated slots to receive the prongs and the wedge-shaped faces thereof, said element having its sli ing movements restricted by said finger engaging means and said wedge-shaped faces, and when frictionally engaged with the latter positively locking the prongs to the tube against outward movement with respect thereto. I

3. In combination with an irrigation tube, a plurality of spring-prongs on opposite sides of the tube, means to rigidly connect the inner ends of the prongs to said tube, a wedge-shaped face on each arm arranged adjacent to said inner ends of the prongs,

ment when frictionally engaged with the wedge shaped faces of the prongs positively locking the latter against outward move- 15 ment with respect to the tube.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM EMMETT MGMORDIE.

and a slidable element on the tube having I Witnesses: elongated slots to receive the prongs and A. H. WILLIAMS, said wedge-shaped faces thereof, said ele- S. P. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

